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French striker/midfielder Sebastien Le Toux has been one of the Philadelphia Union's best players so far this season. He and his teammates will be tested when they face Scottish team Celtic in a friendly tonight at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

Greek striker Georgios Samaras is one of Celtic's most-recognizable players. He was a member of Greece's team at the recently-concluded World Cup in South Africa.

Jean Pierre Blanchet

As this young fan showed last Saturday when the Union hosted the San Jose Earthquakes at PPL Park, Philly's supporters are always ready to show their true colors.

French striker/midfielder Sebastien Le Toux has been one of the Philadelphia Union's best players so far this season. He and his teammates will be tested when they face Scottish team Celtic in a friendly tonight at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

Greek striker Georgios Samaras is one of Celtic's most-recognizable players. He was a member of Greece's team at the recently-concluded World Cup in South Africa.

Jean Pierre Blanchet

As this young fan showed last Saturday when the Union hosted the San Jose Earthquakes at PPL Park, Philly's supporters are always ready to show their true colors.

The Philadelphia Union suffered a crushing loss to the San Jose
Earthquakes in MLS action on Saturday, but there's no rest for the
weary as the team welcomes Scotland's Celtic to PPL Park in
Chester, Pa. tonight for a high-profile exhibition match. Kickoff
is set for 8 p.m., and the game is not being televised either
nationally or regionally.

The match comes at an odd time for the Union. Philly finds
itself in last place in the MLS' Eastern Conference with a 3-8-2
record, but that position in the standings isn't really indicative
of the team's level of play in its debut season. In fact, it's
tempting to say the Union has been a bit unlucky (in true soccer
parlance) so far this campaign.

There's no doubt the visit of a "glamour" team like Celtic will
lift the spirits ... as well as sell a few tickets ... around the
place, especially considering the Earthquakes had just three shots
on goal Saturday but managed a 2-1 win. After tonight, the Union
hosts Toronto FC at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at PPL Park, then faces
Manchester United of the English Premier League in a friendly at
Lincoln Financial Field next Wednesday night.

Celtic is getting ready for the mid-August kickoff of the
Scottish season and will be trying to catch main rivals Rangers,
who won the title last time around. Diehard soccer fans know Celtic
is a team with tons of pedigree, both on the domestic and European
fronts. However, casual fans will be intrigued to learn that Celtic
is sort of the Notre Dame football team of soccer ... they truly
have a worldwide following.

The club was started in the 19th-century slums of Glasgow,
Scotland by Catholic priests to cater to the immigrant Irish
population. To this day, the flag of the Republic of Ireland flies
over the team's Parkhead stadium in Glasgow, and Irishmen the world
over flock to Celtic's matches in great numbers, no matter which
country they're played in. Expect to see heavy fan support tonight
for the team that wears its green-and-white hoops proudly.

On the field, former Celtic star Neil Lennon has taken over as
manager. Lennon was a force with Leicester City in the English
Premier League in the 1990s, and he's been welcomed to the
touchline with open arms by the Celtic supporters. Although
religion doesn't play as big of a role in the Glasgow rivalry
between "Catholic" Celtic and "Protestant" Rangers, Lennon's
contention that he wanted to play for a "united Ireland" while
representing Northern Ireland in international matches has always
gone over well at Parkhead.

Greek striker Georgios Samaras is Celtic's most dangerous
player, while goalkeeper Artur Boruc of Poland has won three league
titles with the team. Samaras was a lanky, hard-to-mark forward
during his stint with Manchester City in the English Premier
League, but there have always been question marks about his work
rate and fitness levels. The athletic Boruc, on the other hand, is
rock solid and gives Celtic a chance to win every time out.

As far as the Union is concerned, manager Peter Nowak will
definitely try to win the game. There will be an unspoken
gentleman's agreement between himself and Lennon, however, that the
style of play won't get too physical so neither team picks up any
injuries. Expect a fast-paced but fair game, and names like Kyle
Nakazawa, Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney ... guys who have been on
the fringe of the starting 11 for the Union ... should earn a place
in the lineup.

It's hard to predict a result in these friendlies, but it's fair
to say that the last 30 minutes will see a distinct fitness
advantage for the Union, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see
Philly pile on the late pressure and pull away for a 3-1 win.
That's not to say they're better than Celtic by any stretch, but
Lennon's team is easing into its season whereas Nowak's boys are
already in midseason form.

No matter what, it should be interesting, and the pageantry at
PPL Park will make for a memorable night. With no stress as far as
earning league points is concerned, the Union might actually turn
on the style against their well-known opponents. And attacking,
flowing soccer is what all fans want to see in the end, no matter
which team you support.